Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum, lying on the southwest coast of India, is the capital to the state of Kerala. The city extends from latitude 8°29' N to longitude 76°59' E. The place is well connected to most of the other major cities of India through rail, road, and air network.

Fact File

Climate

Because of its nearness to the sea, the climate of Thiruvananthapuram is tropical. This also gives Thiruvananthapuram a very pleasant weather round the year. The average maximum temperature can go up to 36.2°C in summer months and to a minimum of 18.0°C in the winters. Monsoon comes to Thiruvananthapuram in the month of May and remains there until November.

History

The city, according to the legends, boasts of being associated with King Solomon whose ships landed at a port called Ophir. Traders have been coming to these parts as far back as 190 ad for spices, sandalwood, and ivory.

The city derives its name from the deity at the Shree Anantha Padmanabhaswami Temple, one of the major landmarks of the place. The name of the city is derived from the words Thiru-Anantha-Puram, meaning the town of Anantha. Although no records of the antiquity of the temple really exists, the temple nevertheless is believed to be several thousands years old.

Thiruvananthapuram shot into prominence in the 18th century when the capital was shifted here form Padmanabhapuram, a little down south. The erstwhile kings of the then Travancore State, taking on the title of Padmanabhadas (servant of Lord), had dedicated themselves completely to the service of the Lord residing in the temple here. By the terms of this dedication, the deity owns the kingdom while the king is the mere executor of the trust. After independence, the city was designated as the capital of Kerala.

Tourist Attractions : There are a number of tourist attractions in Thiruvananthapuram, India. A must on every tourist itinerary for Thiruvananthapuram, the Padmanabhaswami temple with its gopuram (tower) soaring majestically upwards, is believed to be one of the 108 shrines sacred to the Vaishnavites in India.

Besides this magnificent temple, Thiruvananthapuram offers a great deal more. There is the Observatory to start with, established over a hundred years ago in Thiruvananthapuram in India. Several kings have also built their palaces in and around the Thiruvananthapuram, India, each more impressive than the other. Despite a few attempts at modernity, Thiruvananthapuram retains its discreet, old-world charm.

In Thiruvananthapuram one can visit the Museum with its profusion of gables and turrets. A repository of fine works of art, the chief attraction here is the 250-year-old temple car made for Lord Vishnu, artistically designed and ornamented. Besides this, objects carved out of wood, models of temple, antique jewelry, etc., make the museum worth a visit.

Lying within the museum compound of Thiruvananthapuram, Sri Chitra Art Gallery proves to be an ideal place for art lovers. The piece de resistance is the large section devoted to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, an Indian painter of distinction in the history of the country's modern art. Besides him, the Indian section also contains works of Rabindranath Tagore, Jamimi Roy, K. K. Hebar, miniatures from the Rajput and Mughal schools of painting and the famous Tanjore paintings encrusted with semi-precious stones. The gallery's collection also includes paintings from Indonesia, China, and Japan.

Then, of course, a trip to Thiruvananthapuram in India is incomplete without a boat-ride on its enchanting backwaters. These waterways of Thiruvananthapuram in India teem with life. One can be seduced by the panorama of beautiful landscapes, beaches and waterways, coconut palms and, of course, beautiful, friendly people of Thiruvananthapuram in India.

Excursions : Two nearby places worth visiting while in Thiruvananthapuram, India are Veli and Shankhumuggam; the former has been converted into a superb tourist village while the latter boasts of lovely temples and a huge statue of a mermaid presently being worked upon by a famous sculptor.

An absolute must is Kovalam that lies barely 18 km away Thiruvananthapuram. The beach is considered one of the finest in the world and provides ingredients for an ideal holiday excursion from Thiruvananthapuram. Besides swimming, there are opportunities for surfing and water skiing-even an exhilarating catamaran ride into the sea.

Festivals : Onam is the main festival of Thiruvananthapuram, which is celebrated in the month of August or September. This is the harvest festival of Thiruvananthapuram and signifies association of the people with agriculture. Christmas is the other festival of this part of the country and Thiruvananthapuram wears a colourful look during this time of the year. Classical Music Festival is celebrated from January 27 to February 3 every year and is a great time to enjoy for the lovers of pure classical music forms such as Carnatic and Hindustani music in Thiruvananthapuram, India.

Accommodation : Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala and one of the finest tourist destinations in the God's Own Country. Thiruvananthapuram is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and Tamil Nadu on the east. Thiruvananthapuram has a number of popular tourist destinations. Koavalam is the most beautiful beach in Thiruvananthapuram. The other tourist attractions in Thiruvananthapuram include Shanghumugham Beach, Padmanabhaswami Temple, Kanakakunnu Palace and Koyikal Palace.

Thiruvananthapuram has a number of hotels that provide all the modern facilities to tourists visiting Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram has an excellent tourist infrastructure and accommodation facilities. Hotels in Thiruvananthapuram range from high-end hotels to budget and economy hotels. Thiruvananthapuram also has a number of government-approved hotels. Hotels in Thiruvananthapuram offer value for money.

Tours : Tourism of Kerala provides complete information on tours for Thiruvanathapuram India. Thiruvananthapuram is a wonderful tourist destination in Kerala that offers tourists palm fringed beaches and wonderful monuments. Thiruvananthapuram has a number of tourist attractions that you can tour. Some of the important tourist attractions in Thiruvananthapuram include Padmanabhaswami Temple, Kanakakunnu Palace Shanghumugham Beach, Kovalam Beach, Botanical Gardens, Zoo Koyikal Palace and Ponmudi.

Tourism of Kerala offers complete information on Kerala travel and tourism. Tourism of Kerala also offers various tour packages to Thiruvananthapuram India and to book tour packages for Kerala, please fill up the form given below. Tourism of Kerala will get back to you.